Apple’s “Gather Round” Media Event Highlights

Apple has just wrapped up its “Gather Round” media event, held at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park.  Here are some of the highlights of what was presented.

Tim Cook opened the event by discussing Apple retail stores and iOS.  Apple welcomes over 500 million visitors to Apple retail stores each year.  Apple is getting ready to ship its 2 billionth iOS device.  Today will discuss two of Apple’s most personal products.

Apple Watch

• Apple Watch is not only the #1 Smart Watch in the world, it is the #1 watch.
• Screens are now 30% larger with minimal increase in screen size.
• Breath app is now a watch face.
• New watch faces;
  • Fire
  • Water
  • Vapor
• Digital crown has been re-engineered and includes haptic feedback.
• Speaker is 50% louder
• Black is made of black ceramic and sapphire crystal
• New S4 chip – Dual-Core 64-bit processor – 2X faster performance
• Apple Watch Series 4 can detect a fall using a new accelerometer and gyroscope.
  • Upon detecting a fall, it will offer to call for help.
  • If you do not respond it will automatically call for help.
• Three new heart features
  • Low heart rate notification
  • Atrial Fibrilation (“Afib”) detection
  • New sensors and built-in electrodes allow Apple Watch Series 4 to take an ECG in 30 seconds
  • Afib and ECG functions have been granted FDA clearance and will be available later this year
• Series 4 has the same 18-hour battery life as prior models
• New Gold Stainless finish.
• All bands from all prior Apple Watch Series will fit the Series 4.
• Series 4 GPS $399
• Series 4 Cellular $499
• Preorders start this Friday and will be available starting September 21.
• Series 3 starting at $279 – New pricing starting today.
• watchOS 5 will be available on September 17

iPhone

• iPhone X is the #1 smart phone in the world.
• iPhone X S – most advanced iPhone ever created
  • OLED Display
  • Made from Surgical Grade Stainless Steel
  • Screen is made from the strongest glass ever made
  • Now water proof to 2 meters
  • Available in Gold, Silver and Space Gray
  • 8” screen but physically smaller than the iPhone 8 Plus
  • Available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB
  • Starting at $999
  • Available to order Sept. 14th
  • Ships Sept. 21st
• iPhone X S Max
  • New 6.5” Super Retina Display
  • OLED Display
  • Available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB
  • Starting at $1,099
  • Available to order Sept. 14th
  • Ships Sept. 21st
• Wider stereo sound
• Both models have FaceID
• A12 Bionic chip
  • First 7 nanometer chip
  • 9 billion transistors
  • 6-Core CPU
  • 4-Core GPU
  • Built-in Neural Engine
  • Supports up to 512GB of internal storage
  • Improved photo processing
    • Capable of 1 trillion processes on each photo taken
    • Zero shutter lag
    • iPhone takes multiple photos and uses the best elements from each to create the perfect picture
    • Adjust the depth of field after you take the picture
  • Dual SIM and eSIM Support
  • iPhone X R
    • 7000 series aerospace aluminum with glass back
      • White
      • Black
      • Blue
      • Coral
      • Yellow
      • Product Red
    • 1-inch Liquid Retina LCD display
    • New Haptic Touch
    • Face ID
    • 12MP Single Camera System
      • Portrait quality photos
      • True-Depth system
    • 5 Hours longer battery life compared to iPhone 8
    • 64GB, 128GB and 256GB
    • Starting at $799

More Updates

• HomePod – Now supports Stereo Pairs and Airplay 2
• tvOS update will support Dolby Atmos and will available this Monday
• macOS Mojave available September 24^th.

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